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Seafood is a cornerstone of Louisiana’s culinary identity and our state’s restaurant industry. From shrimp and oysters to redfish and crab, the vitality of our fisheries directly impacts the menus we proudly serve and the communities we sustain. That’s why we urge our members to take part in an important opportunity to shape the future of U.S. seafood policy.

NOAA Fisheries is inviting fishing and seafood industry members, technology experts, marine scientists, and other stakeholders to submit public comments on ways to improve fisheries management and science. This process is part of the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.

The public comment period is open now through Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

Your input will help identify actions to revitalize the U.S. seafood sector—addressing declining fisheries landings and revenue, bolstering aquaculture, reducing the seafood trade deficit, and strengthening the resilience of our seafood supply chain.

Key Areas for Feedback

NOAA Fisheries is especially interested in hearing from stakeholders on:

• Regulations: Which federal fishery regulations could be revised, rescinded, or modernized to better support U.S. fishing businesses?
• Challenges & Innovations: What challenges are specific fisheries facing, and what innovative solutions can be implemented?
• Technology & Science: How can less expensive, more reliable technologies and cooperative research improve fisheries assessments?
• Data Collection: How can NOAA modernize the way it collects and uses data to reflect real-time conditions on the water?
• Business Needs: What tools, data, or resources do U.S. fishing businesses need most to adapt to changing economic and environmental realities?
• Fishing Opportunities: How can exempted fishing permit programs be expanded to encourage opportunities nationwide?

Why It Matters for Louisiana Restaurants

The success of our state’s seafood industry has a direct impact on restaurant operations, food costs, menu offerings, and the livelihoods of countless workers in coastal communities. By participating in this process, you help ensure that policies reflect the needs of Louisiana’s seafood supply chain—from fishermen to processors to chefs and restaurateurs.

How to Participate

• Submit a comment online here.
• Attend a listening session: NOAA will host two public listening sessions during the comment period. Details are available here.

This is a rare opportunity to make sure Louisiana’s seafood industry—and by extension, our restaurants—has a strong voice in shaping federal policy. Please take a few moments to share your perspective before the October 14, 2025 deadline.